Modular seating combination



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BY 2 LQWA ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,466,087 MODULAR SEATING COMBINATION George F. Motter III, RED. 1, Center Valley, Pa. 18034 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 563,576, July 7, 1966. This application Mar. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 620,311

Int. Cl. A47c 1/124, 7/02 US. Cl. 297-232 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Description of the present invention The present application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Ser. No. 563,576, filed July 7, 1966 now abandoned for Bleacher Seat.

A purpose of the invention is to increase greatly the flexibility of design of seating, whether indoor or outdoor, including seating for sports and amusements, and with particular reference to seating in bleachers.

A further purpose is to provide a series of seat modules having in themselves unusual features, and to connect them with connectors which prevent tampering and removal of the seat modules, hold them in place, cover their edges, and allow for expansion and contraction.

A further purpose is to make the seat module of multiple shells, the outer shell being supported where necessary on an inner or lower shell, while at the same time the desired adjustment of the contour of the seat for reasons of comfort can take place because of the flexibility of the outer shell.

A further purpose is to provide heat insulation of the seat by virtue of the air space incident to the outer and inner shells.

A further purpose is to make the arrangement of rows and the lengths of rows additionally flexible and to complete and adjust the row lengths, by ends which cover and protect and interlock with the seats and permit expansion, and which can optionally be ends provided with wells or without wells as desired.

A further purpose is to interpose among the seats wells which can be used as containers or receptacles for handbags, programs, hats, gloves, field glasses, and the like, serving also as connectors.

A further purpose is to provide special intermediates with connectors which can be employed to assist in supporting railings or back supports, or both, and to employ special ends which can be used for a similar purpose.

A further purpose is to mount arm rests above the wells so that they can provide support for the arm without interfering with access to the wells.

A further purpose is to permit the owner of stadiums or sports halls, or the like, to select from a wide number of possible variations the particular modular seat combinations which suits the requirements of users and also to provide more elaborate seating facilities for higher priced seats, if desired.

A further purpose is to permit variation in the spacing between seats depending on the seat modules which are used and also depending on the presence or absence of the wells.

A further purpose is to confine the seat occupant in the allocated space.

A further purpose is to make all of the modules interchangeable.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claims.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate several of the embodiments in which the invention may appear, selecting the forms shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation, and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a relatively simple embodiment of the invention, employing only connectors, seat modules and ends.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the preferred embodiments of the invention, utilizing a somewhat different seat module from that shown in the form of FIGURES 1-3, and illustrating wells, back and arm rests, hand rails and special modules for support thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an end elevation of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a seat module as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of the seat module of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an end elevation of the seat module of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of a variation of a seat module which drains toward the rear instead of toward the front.

FIGURE 11 is a side elevation of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is an end elevation of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of a connector as shown in the form of FIGURES 1-3.

FIGURE 14 is a side elevation of the connector of FIGURE 13.

FIGURE 15 is an end elevation of the connector of FIGURE 13 showing also the finish piece used for the end of a row.

FIGURE 16 is a plan view showing a well.

FIGURE 17 is a side elevation of FIGURE 16.

FIGURE 18 is an end elevation of FIGURE 16.

FIGURE 19 is a section of FIGURE 16 on the line 19--19.

FIGURE 20 is a plan view of an end and connector of modified form, differing from that shown in FIGURE 15, and providing for mounting of a hand rail and seat backs.

FIGURE 21 is a side elevation of FIGURE 20.

FIGURE 22 is an end elevation of FIGURE 20.

FIGURE 23 is an end elevation showing a modified form of end which incorporates also a well and end connector.

FIGURE 24 is an end elevation showing an intermediate which provides two wells and also mounting for hand rails and backs of seats.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation, and referring to the drawings.

The system of the invention employs a variety of standard modules which are intended to be :both interchangeable and combinable in many ways in order to provide any of a wide selection of seating arrangements, from a single chair to a complete stadium or assembly hall, and quite suitable for use indoors or outdoors.

By including the proper modules in the proper order, various features are available.

The seat module is contoured for comfort and elasticity,

and also prevents accumulation of rainwater and aids in ready cleaning, including hosing down. For continuous rows of seats, as in a stadium or an assembly hall, a choice of spacing is available, and the modules are permanently attached or can be movably connected to such structures as wood, concrete, metal, or the like. They can make tiers of seats as in bleachers, and they are equally adaptable to existing installations or to new Work.

It will of course be evident that seat and row numbering can be included on the modules. Colored modules can serve to accent section identification and to increase the beauty and attractiveness.

One important feature is a module which provides a well or container between each seat, and thus forms a receptacle for handbags, programs, gloves, binoculars, cameras, cups, bottles, food, and the like. The containers are self drained and cleaning and, again, can be hosed down.

There are modules which can be optionally incorporated for arm rests, back rests, hand railing and the modules will lend themselves to incorporation of heating, cooling or air-conditioning. The modules are designed for comfort, convenience, durability, safety, aesthetic appeal, and low cost.

Except for such things as hand railing, the preferred material will be plastic sheet of the type of acrylonitrile, or other suitable plastics, preferably of the vacuum molding variety.

Considering first the form of FIGURES 1 to 3, I there illustrate a seat module 30, which has ends connecting to a connector module 31 to be described, and at the end of the row to a connector module and an end piece 32 which completes the row. As illustrated in this form, the seat has a depressed portion 33, which at the center merges with a trough 34 which drains continuously toward the front in this form.

The various modules are assembled on a base 35 which may be planking, concrete, or steel or other structural material, by fastening means to be described.

The form of FIGURES 4 to 6 illustrates a somewhat more sophisticated variation. In this form seat modules 30 are interconnected by combined wells and connectors 36 which have suitable lips 37 overhanging the seat module, holding it down and permitting it to expand and contract.

At the end of each row there is a combined connector well and support module 38, which provides mounting for a flange 40, supporting one of the braces 41 of a hand rail 42 which is also supported by a standard 43 connected to a flange 44 on the base 35.

In this particular embodiment, at a suitable fitting 45 where the brace 41 and the standard 43 join, there is mounting for a longitudinally extending rail 46 which holds by suitable clamps a series of seat backs 47. It will be evident that if it is desired to support the seat backs from the individual seats, this can be done by upstanding standards 48 supported on the seats.

At the back of each well 36 there are vertical supports 50 extending above the well for mounting arm rests 51 which protrude forward but do not interfere with access to the well 36.

The seat module will be understood more clearly by reference to FIGURES 7, 8 and 9. In this form the seat module has an outer or upper shell 52 which is flexible and is supported from beneath by an inner or lower shell 53. The shells have at the front and back vertically extending flanges 54 and 55 which are held together by rivets 56. Interposed between the shells is air space 57 which provides insulation and there is trapped air below the shells for further insulation purposes. The upper or outer shell is flexible and can yield to fit the contour of the :body and render the seat more comfortable. In the preferred form, the outer shell is preferably of lighter gage (say A inch) than the inner shell (say A; inch) so that the outer shell is more flexible.

At the lateral upper portion there are shoulders 58 on the outer shell which are located or engaged under the connector as will be explained and which can expand and contract.

The form of FIGURES 10 to 12 is somewhat modified to provide for a permanent method of drainage. In this form of seat module, as best seen in FIGURE 12, there is a seat portion 60 which has a continuous gradually sloped bottom 61 draining at the rear of the seat and open at the rear at 62 to permit slight overhanging by the user, while at the same time there are relatively high side portions 63 which support the buttocks.

This seat module also has an inner shell best seen at 64 in FIGURE 11. This form also has a shoulder 58 to provide for interlocking with the connector.

In FIGURES 13, 14 and 15 I show a connector 31 which comprises an underbody 65, which may, if desired, be of corrugated plastic sheet. This has also a clamping strip 66 which is capable of engaging the shoulder 58 as previously described, the clamping portion also desirably extending around in the front and back to cover the adjoining edges of the seat module.

The clamping portion is held in place suitably by tamper-proof screws 67, which may, if desired, be of the type which have slots adequate for tightening but beveled so they cannot be unscrewed.

In FIGURE 15 I show an end piece 68 which is connected by a shoulder 58' which is clamped between the clamp portion 66 and the body 65.

FIGURES 16, 17 and 18 show a well 36 which has a rim 70 going around the perimeter and defining the side walls 71 and a corrugated bottom well 72. At the lateral edges the rim 70 has turned-down portions 73 which end at a proper height to cover the shoulders 58 on the adjoining seat modules, and at the same time as in the case of the connector, will permit expansion and contraction. Once again, the wells are held in place by tamper-proof screws 74.

The well slopes in its bottom at 72 to one end and toward the middle, providing a central trough 75 which discharges into a sump 76 having a drain opening 77 which can suitably permit water to flow out below.

In some cases a modified form of end is used as in FIGURES 20, 21 and 22. This end 78 has a raised portion 80 which permits attachment of flanges or the like to support the hand rail and the backs of the seats, and conveniently for this purpose has beneath its surface a block 81 filling up the whole interior. The end itself is fastened by tamper-proof screws 82 and the attachment ofthe flanges can be by suitable tamper-proof screws 83 going into the interior block.

There is a turned-down portion 84 to cover, hold and protect shoulder 58 on the lateral portion of the seat module.

In FIGURE 23 I illustrate a modification of the form just discussed which has similar arrangement for supporting the flange for the hand rail and the backs of the seats by block 81 but also has integrally built into it a well 85 which can be substantially of the character just discussed, providing for drainage and ready cleaning. There is again as previously described a turned-down portion 84 which is capable of covering and anchoring shoulder 58 on the seat module. In some cases it is preferable to run long rows which require intermediate support for the hand rail and also for the backs of the seats and where this is required an intermediate as shown in FIGURE 24 is employed. This has two wells 86 at the opposite ends and an intermediate portion provided with a block 81 for anchorage of the flange to support the hand rail and the backs of the seats, Turned-down portions 84 function as previously described to engage and support the shoulders on the seat modules.

It will be evident that many other modules can be developed which will permit selection of unusual and different combinations of seats, wells, supports, and other facilities, such as fiat portions on which a person may write, on which papers may rest, and on which cameras and the like can be supported.

It will be evident that one of the difficulties particularly in flat bleacher seating is that some people without attention to the reasonable rights of their neighbors monopolize much more than their allotted space and crowd others. This is evident whenever one arrives late to a football game. By providing depressions intended to fit the human body it becomes impractical for a person to occupy more than one seat space simultaneously.

It will be evident that the seat modules and other aspects 'of the invention can be readily installed without special skill, and are very lightweight from the standpoint of transportation.

It will also be evident that the stealing of seats can be prevented by the tamper-proof attachments.

It will, of course, be evident that the plastic can have any suitable reenforcing material, such as fiberglass, or other suitable textile or mineral strengthening materials.

It will be evident that the plastic components will be coated with a durable coating which will prevent deterioration. The coating may be, if desired, of a velvety texture.

It will of course be evident that the metal parts can be of a corrosion resisting material, such as aluminum or stainless steel,

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A modular seating combination, which comprises separate seats capable of being assembled in series, and in any desired length, in combination with connectors laterally interfitting with the respective seats and allowing for expansion and contraction of the materials involved, and wells open at the top and having side and bottom walls, interposed between the individual seats.

2. A modular seating combination of claim 1, in which the wells are integral with the connectors which interfit with the respective seats and allow for expansion and contraction.

3. A modular seating combination which comprises separate sea-ts capable of being assembled in series, and in any desired lengths, in combination with connectors laterally interfitting with the respective seats and allowing for expansion and contraction of the material involved with wells interposed between the individual seats, arm rests over the wells, and means for supporting the arm rests from the wells.

4. A modular seating combination which comprises separate seats capable of being assembled in series, and in any desired lengths, in combination with connectors laterally interfitting with respective seats and allowing for expansion and contraction of the materials involved, in which the seats include a trough draining to the front.

5. A modular seating combination which comprises separate seats capable of being assembled in series, and in any desired lengths, in combination with connectors laterally interfitting with respective seats and allowing for expansion and contraction of the material involved, in which each connector includes a supporting element connecting the edges of the seat from below, and a clamping element connecting the edges of the :seat from above,

6. A modular seating combination of claim 5, in combination with tamper-proof screws connecting the parts of the conector and securing the seats in place.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 506,085 10/1893 Whelan 297-248 X 2,824,602 2/1958 Collins et a1. 297-458 2,825,393 3/1958 Warburton et a1. 297--458 3,006,689 10/1961 Eppink 297--457 3,102,754 9/1963 Junkunc 297-248 X 3,114,575 12/1963 Eames et a1. 297-458 X 3,173,723 3/1965 Hoven et a1. 297-451 3,281,184 10/1966 Axtell M. 297248 3,343,870 9/1967 Thatcher et al. 297--232 JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 297457 

